The Arizona champion., 1887-06-04

Memorial day was celebrated in
 Flagstaff in a manner that showed the general interest taken in its eel ebration by the citizens generally.
 All the stores and places of business
 were closed and the Grand Army
 Hall was filled to its whole capacity, a large proportion of those present being ladies. Originally designated to be an occasion for the decoration of the graves of the union soldiers by their surviving brethren, the obser.
 vance has outgrown the intention of its founders and 1t is rapidly becom- irg recognized as a national festival.
 It was thought when the custom was established that it would last until the Grand Army had all passed away but General Logan "bullded better than he knew" when he issued his famous order in 1868, which estab- lished the custom.
 The people have taken it up. In many states the resting place of those who wore the gray are decorated the same as those of the boys in blue, and 1t IS fast becoming the day set apart for the honoring of the dead gener- ally. The survivors of the Grand Army, as long as there are any, will remain the central figures in the ob- servance of the festival, but after they have gone, the custom will not cease, and their graves will be as lavishly decked with flowers as they now deck those of their departed comrades. More than that, It will be a day on which the tombs of noble men and women of all classes will receive the tribute of sweet blossoms and loved ones be remembered by offerings of fair flowers. Thus General Logan "bullt better than he knew" for in- stead of providing a ceremony mere ly for the observance of the Grand Army of the Republic, he laid the foundation of national festival with which his name and that of his com rades will be associated for all time.
 At 10 o'clock Monday morning the members of Ransom Post met at their hall and under the the command of Post Commander Hart formed in line Of procession and followed by nun. Der of citizens and members of other marched around the princi- cipal streets of the town and back to the hall where the memorial services, under the presidency of Post Com mander Hart, were commenced, with the Grand Army ritual provided for the occasion. A quartette male choir composed of Messrs. J. B. Elmore, w. L. Van Horn, G. D. Brothers and P. P. Daggs rendered the usual patriotic songs Tn an efficient manner. After prayer by Rev. N. L. Guthrie, the presiding officer called on Geo. H. Tinker, P, P. C., oi Barrett Post, Prescott, who had been selected as orator of the day to deliver his ad- dress.
 MT. Tinker paid an eloquent tri- bute to the memory of their dead hero comrades, claiming that it was not day of mourning, but one of joy and that the Grand Army still existed as a whole, although It's van guard received their promotion to higher life in the early battles of the war, that the main body of the. army had passed over and pitched their tents or the other shore, leaving on- fy the rear guard here, who would soon follow to join their comrades and be passed In review by the God of battles. The speaker reviewed the motto of the order, showing what was meant by the Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty that they professed to follow, gave brief sketch of the one soli- tary comrade, Patrick Noonan, whose body rested in the cemetery, paid a high tribute to the value of the Wo- mans Relief Corps and after an eulogy on the late General John A. Logan by urging upon his com. rades the necessity of living up to the nigh principles of their brotherhood, 'o that they might be worthy to again stand shoulder to shoulder and again clasp the hands of their comrades, hat had passed over the dark river.
 "Who are grander Tn yonder glory
 Than the greatest that finger behind,
 Their cause was the cause of the races
 Who languishcd in slay.ry's might,
 And the death that was pale on their faces
 Has filled the whole world with its light"
 Dr. Brannen followed in an admir- able speech, in which he showed that heroic deeds, which left their impress ,n human hearts had a more endur- ng memorial than either the painter pr sculptor could bequeath to poster. ty. Dr. Brannen briefly reviewed he events which led up to the war, showing how the conflict was imper. ceptibly precipitated upon the coun- ny and as the spokesman of those who did not take an active part in he war, made an eloquent eulogy up- ,n the men who had fought the bat
 les of the nation, won its victories, md made the union solid and endur- ng. The speaker concluded with an eloquent peroration congratulatingAis hearers that old animosities were dy- ng out, and that the south as well as forth were beginning to see the ef-